The Wood Spirit clan possessed not only an unparalleled advantage in cultivating spirit herbs, but healing injuries was also one of their specialties. With two Wood Spirits assisting from the side, Yang Kai could naturally work without reservation. Moreover, this was the Minor Great World—a realm under his dominion—where everything bowed to his will.
Yang Kai tapped several acupoints on Yang Xiao's body in rapid succession, then drew a deep breath and carefully channeled his Emperor Yuan, guiding it through the boy's meridians with painstaking precision.
He had no idea what kind of secret art the black-robed elder had cultivated, but that technique was utterly sinister. It hadn't claimed Yang Xiao's life in the first instant, yet it was exceedingly difficult to neutralize. The rescuer had to continuously channel power to sustain Yang Xiao's vitality, and throughout the process, Yang Kai could even feel that faint, insidious energy attempting to extend from Yang Xiao's body and corrode him as well.
Damnable old cur. Yang Kai didn't know who the old man was, but he already hated him to the marrow of his bones. If he ever got the chance, he would kill the bastard a hundred times over.
The two Wood Spirits worked busily at his side, drawing upon the motes of green luminescence throughout the medicinal garden. They floated like fireflies and sank into Yang Xiao's body, keeping his life force from guttering out. Mo Xiaoqi had originally been amazed by the two tiny Wood Spirits, but right now she had no mind for wonder—she could only pray, over and over in her heart, that Yang Xiao would pull through unharmed.
At some moment, Yang Xiao's eyes suddenly flew open, and he cried out in pain: "Foster Father, I hurt so badly!"
"Serve you right!" Yang Kai's face was a mask of frustration, and his hands moved even faster. If the little brat hadn't pulled that runaway stunt, how could he have ended up in this mess? Though, truth be told, Yang Kai himself had been somewhat careless. Who could have imagined running into a fake Emperor wreaking havoc in the middle of this vast ocean?
"Foster Father, am I going to die?" Yang Xiao asked again.
Yang Kai snorted: "With me here, dying won't be so easy."
Yang Xiao wanted to speak again, but the moment he opened his mouth, he spat out a mouthful of blood. The blood seemed to be boiling, sizzling as it hit the ground. Mo Xiaoqi watched with her heart in her throat, terrified that Yang Xiao might not hold on and simply die.
One mouthful of blood after another spewed forth. Yang Kai continuously probed Yang Xiao's condition, adjusting his Emperor Yuan output at every moment. The two Wood Spirits worked in perfect coordination beside him.
He didn't know how long it took, but the abnormalities on Yang Xiao's body gradually faded. Yang Kai turned the boy over to check—the five-fingered print on his back had vanished. However, the little guy had lost quite a bit of blood and was thoroughly drained. He managed to open his eyes and look at Yang Kai, then his head tilted to the side as he drifted into a deep sleep.
Yang Kai retrieved several healing spirit pills from his spatial ring, placed them in Yang Xiao's mouth, and helped him assimilate the medicinal effects before finally saying to Mu Zhu and Mu Na: "He's fine now."
The two Wood Spirits withdrew their energy simultaneously, their foreheads glistening with fine beads of sweat.
"I'll need him to stay here for the next few days to recover properly. I'm entrusting his care to you," Yang Kai instructed.
Mu Zhu replied: "Rest assured, Master."
Yang Kai gazed at Yang Xiao with a complicated expression and gently touched his forehead before turning to Mo Xiaoqi: "Let's go."
A flicker of divine sense, and the two of them had exited the Minor Great World.
No one was around—only wisps of blood-scent lingering in the air. Below, the seawater churned as numerous sea demons, drawn by the smell of blood, fought over the corpses of the dead.
Mo Xiaoqi was still somewhat dazed, unable to make sense of how she had suddenly appeared in a medicinal garden one moment and on the open ocean the next. But concern won out, and she asked: "Is Xiao'er going to be all right?"
"He'll be fine," Yang Kai nodded, though his expression was dark enough to drip ink.
Yang Xiao's survival had nothing to do with the black-robed elder showing mercy—it was simply because he was of the Dragon clan, endowed with extraordinary vitality and recovery abilities. Had it been anyone else, even with Yang Kai and the two Wood Spirits treating them, they would most likely have perished.
That old cur's final palm strike had been intended not only to take Yang Xiao's life, but also to divert Yang Kai's attention, allowing him to escape at leisure.
Such behavior was nothing short of monstrous!
But... he had actually dared to lay hands on the daughter of the Phantom Emperor. Who on earth was he?
After waiting a short while, Qiongqi returned.
Yang Kai looked toward him, and the old Qiongqi shook his head: "Got away!"
If it came down to a real fight, Qiongqi was confident he could defeat the opponent. But that man was a fake Emperor after all, and if he was truly bent on fleeing, Qiongqi could do precious little about it. He wasn't like Yang Kai, who had mastered the Laws of Space and enjoyed an innate advantage in both escape and pursuit. After giving chase for a while, he'd had no choice but to return.
Although he had steeled himself for this outcome, hearing Qiongqi confirm it still left Yang Kai unwilling to accept: "Lucky bastard."
If that old man hadn't run, and the three of them—Yang Kai, Qiongqi, and the Dharma Avatar—had joined forces, they would definitely have had a chance to keep him there forever. But since he had escaped, there was nothing to be done. Chasing after him now would be pointless—who knew which direction he'd fled. After a moment's thought, Yang Kai asked: "Did you recognize who that was?"
Qiongqi shook his head: "This old man slumbered in the Land of Four Seasons for countless ages and only emerged recently. I'm really not too clear on who the strong ones in this world are."
Yang Kai nodded: "Senior Li and the others might know something."
Rubbing his chin in thought, Yang Kai said: "Xiaoqi, we're heading back to Spirit Beast Island."
He had originally planned to use the spatial beacon to travel directly to Spirit Beast Island, but to fulfill Yang Xiao's wish—and at Mo Xiaoqi's suggestion—he had decided to fly instead. Now that this had happened, Yang Kai feared further complications with every passing moment and resolved to escort Mo Xiaoqi back first.